Quantification of wellbore fluid additives by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

Abstract

Additives of wellbore fluids can be quantified using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. For example, a method can involve acquiring a sample of wellbore fluid from a wellbore. The wellbore fluid can include an additive. The sample can be processed to separate the wellbore fluid into a liquid sample and a solid sample. A laser induced breakdown spectroscopy device can identify a chemical composition of the liquid sample or the solid sample. A concentration of the additive in the wellbore fluid can be determined based on the chemical composition of the liquid sample or the solid sample. An adjustment to a composition of the wellbore fluid can be performed based on the concentration of the additive in the wellbore fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 processing a sample of wellbore fluid acquired from a wellbore into a liquid sample and a solid sample by performing filtration, selective flocculation, centrifugation, distillation, or selective extraction of the sample; 
 receiving, from a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy device, a chemical composition of the liquid sample or the solid sample, the wellbore fluid comprising an additive; 
 determining a concentration of the additive in the wellbore fluid based on the chemical composition of the liquid sample or the solid sample; and 
 causing an adjustment to a composition of the wellbore fluid based on the concentration of the additive in the wellbore fluid. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additive in the wellbore fluid comprises a tagged atom, and wherein the method further comprises determining the concentration of the additive in the wellbore fluid by:
 polymerizing the additive with the tagged atom prior to injecting the additive into the wellbore fluid; 
 detecting the tagged atom in optical data received from the laser induced breakdown spectroscopy device; and 
 determining the concentration of the additive in the wellbore fluid based on a detected concentration of the tagged atom in the liquid sample or the solid sample. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the adjustment to the composition of the wellbore fluid by:
 determining that the concentration of the additive in the wellbore fluid is lower than a predefined threshold; and 
 determining an amount of additive to inject into the wellbore fluid to cause the concentration of the additive in the wellbore fluid to exceed the predefined threshold. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser induced breakdown spectroscopy device is usable to identify the chemical composition by performing of at least one of determining an elemental composition or a chemical fingerprinting of the liquid sample or the solid sample. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is processed to generate the liquid sample and the solid sample by performing at least dehydration of the sample. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the concentration of the additive in the wellbore fluid exceeds a predefined threshold for the additive; and 
 forgoing causing the adjustment in response to determining that the concentration of the additive in the wellbore exceeds the predefined threshold. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additive comprises at least one of a shale inhibitor, a fluid loss additive, a viscosifier, a suspension aide, a corrosion inhibitor, an emulsifier, a bridging agent, a weighting agent, a salt, a glycol, a silicate, a nanoparticle, loss circulation materials, or a lubricant. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration comprises a first type of filtration and a second type of filtration that is different from the first type of filtration. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first type of filtration causes the liquid sample or the solid sample to have particles in a first size range, wherein the second type of filtration causes the liquid sample or the solid sample to have particles in a second size range, and wherein the first size range is larger than the second size range.